Neetzan Zimmerman

A Beijing-based model was sentenced earlier this week to nine months in jail for impersonating a police officer after she posted several photos of herself dressed in a revealing police uniform to a social networking site.

23-year-old Wang Xiaomeng uploaded a series of suggestive photos that she said were taken as part of a promotional shoot for an detective novel.

As a new cop in my hometown, I need to learn the basics. As one of the flowers of the force, I am under pressure. I have to eat and drink with government leaders every day. I am using my flower status to dine with the leaders and win contracts for projects and investments!

Hundreds of Sina Weibo users commented on the set, with only a handful taking offense to their content. But that was apparently enough for government officials who instructed the police to arrest Wang for impersonation.

"The costume was just a prop, I was so ignorant," she pleaded in court, but to no avail. Wang was found guilty and sentenced to nine months behind bars.

Happily, Wang won't actually have to spend any time in jail, as the sentence was subsequently suspended for a year.

Still, many remain unimpressed with how the matter was handled, and have taken to Weibo to say as much.